Milford turns attention to fixing water tank

While the town awaits answers on the 13-day drinking water crisis, the fire chief says he's anxious to see the faulty water tower on Congress Street repaired and put back online.

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 27, 2009 at 2:58 PM

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 27, 2009 at 2:58 PM

MILFORD

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While the town awaits answers on the 13-day drinking water crisis, the fire chief says he's anxious to see the faulty water tower on Congress Street repaired and put back online.

"From a fire protection standpoint, we're concerned," Fire Chief John Touhey said of the fact the storage tank has been out of service since Aug. 11.

Officials say the tank is the likely culprit behind the recent contamination of the Milford Water Co.'s supply. It was taken off-line during the period of the boil-water order, when an inspection revealed holes in the tank's Fiberglas roof and that caulking wasn't properly sealing the edges.

Dave Condrey, operations manager for the private utility, met yesterday with officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection to discuss plans to get the tank back online.

He said the company is still obtaining bids but is prepared to immediately do a quick-fix that will cost an estimated $30,000.

"If we can get something in writing to DEP and DEP gives us the green light, we can try to start next week if all things go right," Condrey said.

Touhey said it's the sooner, the better, for public safety's sake.

Not being able to draw on the 1 million gallons of water the tank holds could be problematic if there was a major fire in town, the chief said.

"That would be our fear," he said.

Condrey said the Water Co. needs to carefully select a contractor and engineer that will stand behind any work that is done on the tower.

"It's not just, pick a roof and slap it on the tank," he said.

Once the temporary repairs are made, the focus will then be on a permanent fix, which would probably happen next spring or summer, Condrey said.

"The main (priority) for the short term is to get the tank back in service as quickly as we can and as safely as we can," he said. The bidding process will ensure the best price "for everybody involved," he said.

Condrey said the tank, shut off from the rest of the distribution system, is now about three-quarters full of water likely contaminated with bacteria.

The water will eventually be drained into the stormwater system, with samples to be taken. The tank would then be cleaned out, Condrey said.

The DEP isn't going to officially sign off on the project "until the repairs have been made and all parties have been satisfied," Condrey said.

Meanwhile, the Water Co. is working on a standard self-evaluation about its drinking water standards violation, which is due soon.

In it, Condrey said the utility will answer questions such as: "Explain what you thought happened, and what did you do, and how did you correct the problem, and how are you going to prevent it in the future."

Page 2 of 2 - Meanwhile, an investigation by the DEP continues into what the state calls "data discrepancies" having to do with samples taken during the crisis.

Selectman Dino DeBartolomeis said he talked this week to Paul Anderson, deputy regional director with the DEP, who was silent about the details.

"He wouldn't talk much about that," DeBartolomeis said. "I said, 'Fine, you shouldn't. Do the investigatory work and report the findings.' "

With the town awaiting results of that investigation, other reports are due from the DEP on the emergency, and from Touhey and Police Chief Tom O'Loughlin on the town's response.

DeBartolomeis said the DEP report will be instrumental, as officials will sit down, scrutinize it and learn from it.

Clearly, there were initial communication issues during the crisis, with a lapse in the time it took the Milford Water Co. to notify officials of the boil order and for the public to then get word, DeBartolomeis said.

"That's definitely something that has to be corrected with the Water company as we go forward," he said. "But that's in the past now, so we have to look forward.

"The impetus is going to be on the Water company to make sure they do what has to be done now," he said.